Kit Carson’s Iconic Design in Butterfly Form

The M16 series of folders, from Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT), has been a staple in the knife world for over 25 years. In 1999, it introduced the public to a Kit Carson-designed production knife with a flipper tab. As a result, it changed the way users rapidly deploy their folding knives. Since then, the M16 pattern has been scaled up and down, had various blade shapes, and even a few different locking mechanisms. CRKT has branched out again, with the introduction of the M16-03 Bali.

The CRKT M16-03 Bali

In the latest release, CRKT has taken the design that worked so well in the M16 pattern and put it into a highly functional balisong, aka a butterfly knife. The M16 Bali might be a departure from the norm. However, it does exactly what the original did. It puts a fresh version of a folding knife into the pockets of travelers and adventurers.

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The M16 Bali is constructed of premium materials. Its handles are black anodized aluminum, with a pocket clip set up for right-hand carry. The 3.38-inch MagnaCut blade rides on IKBS ball-bearing pivots. So, opening, closing, and flipping is about as smooth as butter on a warm pan. This spear-point version is the M16-03 Bali, and there’s also a tanto-bladed version designated M16-02 Bali.

As a throwback to the original, the blade sports two ‘tabs’, reminiscent of the flipper tabs in the original M16s. In the closed position, it sorta resembles the old-school M16s. In the open position, they’re fraternal twins. It weighs in at a lovely 2.5 ounces, with just enough weight to give some inertia while opening, but light enough to carry comfortably.

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Opening the M16-03 Bali

Don’t let the butterfly operating system intimidate you. The M16 Bali is very easy to operate safely. Single-edge butterfly knives have what are referred to as a ‘live’ handle and a ‘safe’ handle. The live handle is the side that the edge closes into. The safe handle is the side that the spine of the knife closes into.

Opening the knife while holding the safe handle provides the user with the same level of protection against accidental cuts as with any other opening mechanism. Like any other folding knife, don’t put your digits between the edge and the handle when closing, and you’ll be just fine. On the M16 Bali, the ‘safe’ handle is the side with the pocket clip.

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The latch is a stainless loop and does a good job of keeping the knife closed in the pocket. It’s easy to pop loose with a slight sweep of a finger, or a squeeze of the handles allows it to drop free. The latch does allow the knife to be secured open, but I found myself only bothering to do this about half the time. For quick tasks, gripping the open knife securely effectively ‘locks’ the knife open.

While opening packages, breaking down boxes, and typical quick chores, I didn’t bother with the latch. During tasks when I was varying my grip, like whittling or food prep, I preferred to latch it open.

The Bali in Action

The M16-03 Bali was released at Shot Show 2026. I got this one a few weeks later and have been carrying it since. For me to bother with a knife, it must work in the woods and on the range.

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The first test was general wood carving and making a pile of shavings for the wood stove. The 0.12-inch stock thickness, combined with the high saber grind and absolute razor edge, sailed through downed pine and aspen. Dried juniper is some ridiculously hard stuff, and the M16 Bali did just fine. Making a baseball-sized ball of curls from oak brush took less than a minute.

I grabbed more dead oak brush about 1.5 inches in diameter and used the M16 Bali to make a few opposing notches. Breaking the stick at the notches, I made plenty of fuel for my little wood stove. I stuffed the ball of shavings in the stove, hit it with a lighter, and dropped the sticks on top.

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The M16 Bali got me all I needed for coffee by the river without any fuss. On another adventure in the same area, I used the M16 Bali to make a digging stick to unearth a buried mule deer dead head I came across.

I spent several days with the M16 Bali turning regular sticks into pointy sticks and making notches for trap triggers. Cutting L-7 notches into dry aspen was uneventful and less than a two-minute job. Just for fun, I made a quick kubaton also.

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Generally, the grip is comfortable, but the handles are squared off. If you’re going to be bearing down hard for long periods, a set of lightweight gloves is a good idea.

On the Job

I’ve carried the M16 Bali for 60 hours of SWAT training, including 30 hours for my job as Sniper Team Leader. In those hours, the M16 Bali opened cases of ammo, cut target backers, pried staples from target stands, and even scraped mud out of a disagreeable tripod leg.

During this, I noticed two things:

First, the lightweight knife is a pleasure to carry when everything else is heavy and bulky. Second, the M16 Bali opens easily with gloves on.

Those tabs on the side of the blade are a throwback to the original M16 flipper design. However, they’re handy to ‘flip’ the knife open as well.

While out doing long-range precision training, I found enough of the knife rode above my pocket seam to make pulling it out easy. I could pop the latch, then use my index finger on the tab and ‘flip’ the knife just like the old-school design. I let the knife rotate in my hand as the live-side handle swung around, and badda-bing, easy peasy opening.

One evening, as I was ruthlessly assaulting Mount Cardboard, the edge finally started to drag. MagnaCut does three things extremely well: it’s highly corrosion resistant, it’s crazy tough, and it keeps an edge longer than your ex holds a grudge. Eventually, though, you’ll have to sharpen it.

I used a medium-grit diamond stone, then a fine-grit stone, and finally a ceramic rod. It’s not terrible to sharpen, but it ain’t a butter knife either. Just use a quality diamond system, don’t let it get too dull between treatments, and everything will be fine.

More Than an Adult Fidget Spinner

The M16 Bali is manufactured by Live Sharp Industries in Colorado for CRKT. Everything about it is exceptionally well done. It’s a quality knife that’s heck’n fun to use. I’ve flipped it about a zillion times, and the pivots have stayed exactly as snug as when I got it.

It’s a little pricy, but this isn’t your mall-ninja, pot-metal junk from back in your grunge days. The M16 Bali is an excellent pocketknife, and a great way to get into a balisong for daily carry.

CRKT M16-03 Bali Specs

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